Independent Institute Senior Vice President Mary L. G. Theroux testified on "Childhood Poverty, Government Failures, and the Need for Economic Liberty", before the California State Senate's Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, at the request of State Senator Jeff Stone. The witnesses spoke about California's Maximum Family Grant rule for families on welfare. The rule caps grants and does not increase grant money to mothers on welfare when they have more children. Mary testified about the causes of poverty and of the need for other, non-government options for poor families. She introduced ideas for helping the poor through private resources and organizations, instead of government agencies where families and women often find themselves trapped in a cycle of poverty.

Ghanaian economist and Research Fellow, George Ayittey argues that Africa is poor because it is not freedue to dictatorships. He spoke with host Justin Rowlatt and an audience at Paris Dauphine University in Paris.

Americas most provocative humorist, P. J. ORourke, has read pioneering economist Adam Smiths The Wealth of Nations, first published in 1776, so we dont have toand the results are as entertaining as they are enlightening.

In June 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Kelo v. New London that local governments may force property owners to sell out and to make way for private economic development, even if the property is not blighted. In response, many states have passed legislation and proposed amendments to their state constitutions to block this unprecedented government assault on the rights of property owners.